Scout and Lily Compare and Contrast Essay
Both Scout, from To KIll a Mockingbird and Lily, from The Secret Life of Bees uphold their beliefs regarding race and personal prejudices in their own pieces of literature. Although these stereotypes belong to two different characters, some similarities can be found between them as well. Lily and Scout have had different ranges of exposure to African Americans, however they both eventually developed mature thoughts involving race and represented strong female characters in the midst of male-dominated societies.
Scout and Lily were both constantly considering and believing what they heard regarding African Americans from their guardians and classmates at the beginning of each novel. Though the residents of Maycomb, Alabama were quick to judge their African American counterparts, Scout’s father, Atticus, knew better than to agree with them. Although Scout was curious about the truth behind her classmates harsh words, she quickly disregarded their meaning after digesting her father’s advice and began to form her own mature beliefs and thoughts about race at an unusually young age. For instance, in To Kill a Mockingbird, “‘...My folks said your daddy was a disgrace an’ that n****r oughta hang from the water tank!’ I drew a bead on him ,
…show more content…
As shown above, Lily and Scout have had different ranges of exposure to African Americans, however they both eventually developed mature thoughts involving race and represented strong female characters in the midst of male-dominated societies. Similarities and differences between Lily’s and Scout’s many beliefs, spread throughout The Secret Life of Bees and To Kill a Mockingbird, creating two striking and intricately woven characters, who will continue to amaze me for years to
Within the novel “The Secret Life of Bees” written by Sue Monk Kidd, the reader enters a journey exploring the hardships of the time period, as well as the power and the strength of women. The story, set in the Deep South during the 1960’s illustrates the struggle of Lily Owens, a fourteen year old girl with her parents and developing society. On a quest to unlock the truth and more information about her mother, Lily takes up residence with three African-American sisters where she is taught and encounters unfamiliar experiences that she would have never believed possible. Over the course of the novel, Kidd details the altering and dynamic relationship between Lily and her parents. Although minimal change occurs involving Lily’s abusive father,
Throughout the story, begins to notice the truth about Maycomb and the rest of the world. As the story progresses, Scout is able to depict how discrimination, racism, and segregation are present within the society that she lives in. This arises when her father, Atticus Finch, is representing an African American man, Tom Robinson, who has been falsely accused of raping a white woman. Robinson is put on trial and found guilty, thus showing Scout and her brother, Jem, that their town is not as innocent as it seems, consequently making them more knowledgeable about
Never, ever be afraid to stand for what’s right thing People are complicated. Learn about their life before judging them.-you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view Prejudge Firstly, Atticus taught Scout many important life lessons, but most importantly, he taught her to not be prejudiced, and to treat everyone with equality. This was extremely important in Scout's growth as a person, because in those days, many people were blinded by racism; Scout learned to treat all people evenly.
In her book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee introduces and builds upon a wide variety of characters, who all have a wide range of interests, likes, dislikes and common philosophies; they are best described as either being a mockingbird, or a blue jay, both complete polar opposites of each other. Atticus Finch, as well as Scout Finch, would best be described as mockingbirds, whereas Miss Alexandria Finch would be described as a blue jay. This extreme contrast would represent the difference between people who are relentless for social justice, who are also willing to sacrifice themselves and their reputation to uphold egalitarian principles, and those who are intolerant of people different than they are- superficial beings. In nature, mockingbirds
Growing Up in Maycomb Growing up is part of life. Whether you realize it or not with age comes knowledge and with knowledge comes maturity. For Scout losing her innocence is inevitable. From dealing with bad teachers, going to an old lady's house everyday for month, to seeing a man be wrongfully accused of rape, to realizing you’re childhood villain is your guardian angle.
These two examples show the conflicts caused by gender stereotypes, and how Scout goes against
Scout's race in To Kill a Mockingbird affects the tone, voice, and content of the narration because it is in the tone of a white woman looking back from the perspective of herself as a young white child in Jim Crow South. A young white child's tone is different because she has no idea of how bad it is for African Americans in her town. Since things have just always been that way and the racism never directly affects her she is mostly unaware of it. She wonders why Calpurnia uses the front door when the rabid dog comes down the road because she has just always used the back entrance and doesnt recognize why or that it is disrespectful.
Through the lesson Atticus tries to teach Scout, she learns that people will follow biases and prejudices rather than the truth. Within the book To Kill a Mockingbird the main character, Scout, her father is defending a black man in court. During his time defending, he is called name foul names by people in the community. This is a quote from the
Scout herself learns from Atticus, her father, that “[y]ou never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb in his skin and walk around in it.” (Lee 39) Throughout the novel, Scouts truly learns about racism, how it affects everyone, and how unfair it was toward the African community. We still have much to learn because there is very much still racism in today’s society. By using books like To
In the novel, To Kill a MockingBird, Harper Lee illustrates the harsh treatment receive from the townspeople’s when he is order to defend Tom Robinson. When talking to his brother, Jack, Atticus explains that he hopes that his children will not catch Maycomb’s usual disease of racism and prejudice, he hopes his children will come to him. “I just hope that Jem and Scout come to me for their answers, instead of listening to the town.” When Scout asked Atticus if he was really a n***** lover, Atticus responded “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody...
This quote ties back to my thesis because after hearing this about Arthur they alienate him from the town and act like he is not human. " Scout Finch's daddy defends niggers, I denied it but told Jem" (99). This quote shows that many of the older folks in Maycomb dislike the African Americans very strongly. This opinion was rubbing off on the younger generations now as well. This proves that society is a monster because everything is rumors nothing is true, society is making a 7 year old question her father which could end badly if she stops believing in him.
Race has always been a part of history, from slavery to MLK, to Barack Obama. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee defines race in the south during the 1930’s. Jean “Scout” Finch, is the narrator of the story. Her brother Jeremy “Jem” and her dad, Atticus, are both main characters. Calpurnia is their house cook and helper, she is also black.
Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced” (Lee 329). While this may seem like a useful life lesson, Scout realizes the clear hypocrisy in her lesson. Like every other citizen of Maycomb, she is prejudiced against black people. Even though she is teaching her students that prejudice and persecution is wrong, she is participating in those very activities at home. She heard her third grade teacher after Tom Robinson’s trial, she thought “it’s time somebody taught ‘em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us” (Lee 331).
Jean Louise Finch ‘Scout’ is a headstrong young girl who narrates the novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, set in the fictitious County Maycomb over the span of three years. She is often found sporting dirty overalls or breeches and possesses a rather tomboyish personality, much to her aunt’s dismay. It says, “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire... When I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants. ”(Page 90)
Both presenting themselves as an intelligent individual in the art of schooling, meanwhile they show naiveness of a child in observations of human behavior. Scout, in To Kill A Mockingbird, became well aware of cruel insults from her community about their dislike of her father’s actions. Her and her brother became accustomed and grudgingly tolerable to such insults and began to realize that the white folks could not accept the Negroes into everyday life. Maya, in I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, grew up in a black community, thus not being surrounded by racism all the time. On the other hand, her brother experienced how cold-blooded the white community is toward the black.